<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Temperatures of worker- and drone-brood rearing in various hive locations were compared in both colonies kept on small-cell combs (4.90 mm) (SMC) and standard-cell combs (5.50 mm) (STC) in two seasons. Temperatures close to the worker-brood comb placed near the rightmost storage-comb were lower than those near the worker brood in the nest centre but equal to those near the outskirt drone-brood comb (34.37-35.24°C) regardless of the month and the comb-cell size. Temperatures of the brood rearing in the SMC did not differ from those in the STC, independently on the location (center-periphery) and the brood type (drone-worker). Occasionally, they were even higher in the STC near the peripheral drone-brood comb and in the nest centre. We concluded that the drones which are involved in colony reproduction could affect its thermoregulation. The peripheral drone brood can be heated just as well as the worker brood, if the colony is strong enough and has the proper drone-worker ratio. Therefore, it is doubtful whether a higher temperature near the worker brood in the SMC limit the development of the <italic>V. destructor</italic> population. A lower temperature may not be a factor in encouraging <italic>V. destructor</italic> females to prefer trap-drone-combs for reproduction in the SMC. Strong field colonies may be especially prone to such behaviour. Therefore, temperature cannot be considered a mechanism of effective <italic>Varroa</italic> control in SMC.</p></abstract>

Temperatures of worker- and drone-brood rearing in various hive locations were compared in both colonies kept on small-cell combs (4.90 mm) (SMC) and standard-cell combs (5.50 mm) (STC) in two seasons. Temperatures close to the worker-brood comb placed near the rightmost storage-comb were lower than those near the worker brood in the nest centre but equal to those near the outskirt drone-brood comb (34.37-35.24°C) regardless of the month and the comb-cell size. Temperatures of the brood rearing in the SMC did not differ from those in the STC, independently on the location (center-periphery) and the brood type (drone-worker). Occasionally, they were even higher in the STC near the peripheral drone-brood comb and in the nest centre. We concluded that the drones which are involved in colony reproduction could affect its thermoregulation. The peripheral drone brood can be heated just as well as the worker brood, if the colony is strong enough and has the proper drone-worker ratio. Therefore, it is doubtful whether a higher temperature near the worker brood in the SMC limit the development of the V. destructor population. A lower temperature may not be a factor in encouraging V. destructor females to prefer trap-drone-combs for reproduction in the SMC. Strong field colonies may be especially prone to such behaviour. Therefore, temperature cannot be considered a mechanism of effective Varroa control in SMC.

Drone and Worker Brood Was Unexpectedly Well Heated Both in Standard-Cell and Small-Cell Comb Colonies

Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, Faculty of Biology, Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy

Department of Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy

Journal of Apicultural Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Temperatures of worker- and drone-brood rearing in various hive locations were compared in both colonies kept on small-cell combs (4.90 mm) (SMC) and...

Drone and Worker Brood Was Unexpectedly Well Heated Both in Standard-Cell and Small-Cell Comb Colonies

Published Online: Jun 26, 2019

Page range: 157 - 164

Received: Feb 06, 2019

Accepted: Apr 02, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2019-0013

Keywords
comb cell size, drone-brood, honeybee, nest, rearing temperature,

© 2019 Krzysztof Olszewski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Drone and Worker Brood Was Unexpectedly Well Heated Both in Standard-Cell and Small-Cell Comb Colonies

Published Online: Jun 26, 2019

Page range: 157 - 164

Received: Feb 06, 2019

Accepted: Apr 02, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2019-0013

Keywordscomb cell size, drone-brood, honeybee, nest, rearing temperature,

© 2019 Krzysztof Olszewski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
comb cell size, drone-brood, honeybee, nest, rearing temperature,